Rain or Shine, Pinball Wins: Intense Battles at The Pinball Lounge Bonanza

On a rain-soaked evening in Oviedo, Florida, The Pinball Lounge buzzed with excitement as 26 players gathered for The Pinball Lounge – Bonanza on January 21, 2025. Despite the heavy rain and a chilly 50°F temperature outside, the competition inside was anything but cold. With six rounds of intense pinball action, players battled for top honors in a fast-paced tournament lasting two and a half hours.

The Pinball Lounge – A Home for Pinball Lovers

Located inside Oviedo Bowling Center, The Pinball Lounge is a gem for pinball enthusiasts. Featuring a wide variety of pinball machines—both modern and classic—the lounge is known for its well-maintained games and welcoming atmosphere. Players rave about the friendly community, the owners’ passion for pinball, and the affordable Friday night deals that allow unlimited play. Whether you’re a seasoned competitor or just rediscovering the joy of pinball, this spot has something for everyone.

Guardians of the Galaxy (Premium) Sets the Tone

The tournament kicked off with an action-packed match on Guardians of the Galaxy (Premium), a 2017 Stern pinball machine that immerses players in the chaotic world of Star-Lord and his ragtag team. One of the machine’s standout features is the Groot Multi-ball, where a sculpted Groot head devours pinballs before launching them back into play—perfectly capturing the unpredictable energy of the game.

James Blackford, ranked 19,502 in the IFPA standings, shocked the field by securing first place in this round, proving that rankings don’t always dictate results. He outmaneuvered Ken MacMillan (ranked 3,070), Jason Phillabaum (ranked 10,178), and Michela Phillabaum (ranked 7,198) in an impressive performance. With Groot spitting out multi-ball chaos, it was a battle of reflexes and strategy, and James emerged victorious.

Machines That Defined the Night

With 34 pinball machines on deck, The Pinball Lounge offered a rich variety of gameplay styles, from fast-paced modern games to classic favorites. Here are some of the standout machines that shaped the tournament action:

Jurassic Park (Data East, 1993) – When Dinosaurs Ruled the Tournament

Based on the blockbuster film, this machine captures the excitement (and occasional terror) of Isla Nublar with a unique T-Rex toy that physically grabs and devours the ball—one of the most memorable features of its era. The playfield is packed with fast ramps, a raptor pit that locks balls for multi-ball, and a thrilling “System Boot” mode where players must restore power to the island before dinosaurs take over. Players in the tournament had to juggle skill shots with strategic multi-ball play, as well as keep their nerves steady whenever the T-Rex was about to strike.

KISS (Bally, 1979) – Rock and Roll All Night (and Tilt Every Day)

This late-’70s classic brings the explosive energy of KISS to the pinball world with a straightforward but high-scoring playfield that demands precise shots. Players hit drop targets to spell “KISS,” lighting up the playfield and boosting scores. With an emphasis on nudging and ball control, this game doesn’t have deep rules, but it does have brutal outlanes that can end a ball in seconds if you’re not careful. In a modern tournament setting, it becomes a battle of who can keep the ball alive the longest while racking up those valuable bonus points.

Batman 66 (Premium) (Stern, 2016) – Holy Multi-ball, Batman!

Inspired by the campy yet beloved 1960s TV series starring Adam West and Burt Ward, Batman 66 is a mode-based game that rewards precision and strategy. With each villain—The Joker, The Riddler, Catwoman, and The Penguin—offering different challenges, players had to carefully plan their shots to complete modes efficiently. The rotating Bat-Computer targets added another level of unpredictability, and the “Villain Escape” multi-ball provided some of the highest-scoring opportunities of the night. This game thrives in tournament play, where a well-executed strategy can turn a low-scoring game into a championship-winning performance.

JAWS (Premium/LE) (Stern, 2024) – You’re Gonna Need a Bigger Score

The newest game on the lineup, JAWS (Premium/LE), had players testing their survival instincts on Amity Island. This machine features an incredibly cinematic experience, complete with a mechanical shark that can “chomp” the ball, interactive lifeguard towers, and deep rule sets that reward risk-taking. The “Shark Attack” multi-ball mode saw some of the night’s biggest point swings, and those who mastered the skill shot at the harpoon lane found themselves at a significant advantage. The brutal slingshots and unpredictable ball movement made this game a true wildcard in the tournament.

Scared Stiff (Bally, 1996) – Elvira’s House of Horrors (and High Scores)

A beloved classic hosted by horror icon Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, Scared Stiff delivers a perfect blend of humor, horror, and high-speed pinball action. The game revolves around completing six creepy challenges, such as “Terror from the Crate” and “Return of the Deadheads,” to advance the Stiff-o-Meter and trigger one of the best wizard modes of the 1990s. The spinning crate toy and the Bony Beast ramp provided some of the most entertaining moments of the night, with players frantically flipping to keep their scores climbing before time ran out. It’s a game that rewards both patience and aggression—two qualities that define great tournament players.

With such a deep and varied lineup of machines, competitors had to adapt quickly, showing versatility across eras and play styles. Whether it was surviving the shark-infested waters of JAWS, navigating the multi-ball chaos of Guardians of the Galaxy, or handling the relentless brutality of KISS, every game tested their skills in different ways.

The Best of the Night

After six rounds of intense competition, Doug Bernard from Orlando emerged as the tournament champion. Ranked 4,424 in the IFPA standings with 127 events played, Doug’s experience shined through as he navigated tough matchups to claim victory.

Hot on his heels was Anton Samilian, ranked 4,802, showing strong consistency throughout the night. In third place, John Moschella from Winter Springs, FL, finished just short of the top but reinforced his status as a top player in the state, currently ranked 26th in Florida. Nick Smith, ranked 46th in Florida, rounded out the podium with a strong fourth-place finish.

Florida IFPA Pinball Top 10 Standings

A Night of Competitive Pinball

The Pinball Lounge – Bonanza brought another thrilling night of competition to Oviedo, proving once again why this location is a staple of Florida’s pinball scene. Congratulations to Doug Bernard on his well-earned victory, and hats off to all the competitors who braved the storm to battle it out on the silver ball.

With a top-tier lineup of machines and a strong local community, The Pinball Lounge continues to be one of the best places in the region to experience competitive pinball. Keep an eye on upcoming events—Florida’s pinball action shows no signs of slowing down!